Tag: advertising

Get to Know the SimpatiCrew – Steve (11/12)

Steve Whiskeyman,Co-Founder and President

This is the 11th installment of interviews with the Crew members of Simpatico Studios. The interviews are conducted by Veronica Mattaboni, your kindly narrator and interviewer.

Steve sits at his comically large desk, trying intently to convince me that the U shaped desk he’s working on, which spans 2 walls and consumes 75% of the room, is “not that big of a desk.” He then explains that the space came pre-furnished. He sits behind a laptop, wearing his fabulous collared Simpatico shirt, doing important things, probably.

VM: How would you define the Steve Brand™?

SW: Jill stole my word. The answers I’m going to give are going to sound a lot like Jills. I am completely irreverent, as in I don’t revere by default what other people think should be revered. But I’m not cynical. Well… I’m sometimes cynical.

VM: What are some things that are characteristically you?

SW: I feel like that’s a question you should ask people around me. He turns to Jill Whiskeyman. What do you think?

JW: Sarcastic.

SW: …I didn’t ask you. I asked Ver.

JW: How about contemplative?

SW: I guess… In the world stage, there are writers and there are actors, and I’m a writer. I like to think about things. I don’t like to instantly react. I’m also compulsive minter. I love Icebreakers.

VM: What’s your favorite song right now?

SW: He chuckles. I’m really weird with music. It’s the score from Avengers: Infinity War; in particular, the part where Thor enters Wakanda. It still gives me goosebumps.

VM: Do you consider yourself a good gift giver and what was the last gift you got someone?

SW: My instant reaction isn’t yes and maybe that’s your answer. I’m too much of a perfectionist. One of our client’s partners is expecting their first child, and we got their baby girl a little welcome bag, with a onesie and newborn baby Uggs. I have fun shopping for that kind of stuff.

VM: If you could teach a class on literally anything, what would it be and why?

SW: Well as Jill said, we teach classes together. We do everything together. I just taught one last spring. Have I taught the class I’ve always wanted to teach? No, but the last one we did felt very close.

VM: What’s your all-time favorite tv show?

JW: She snickers from her seat at the table. I know.

SW: No you don’t.

JW: Yes I do. Quantum Leap, followed by the Simpsons.

SW: What can I say? I love sci-fi and satire.

JW: I forgot South Park.

SW: Yes, South Park is the height of satire.

VM: Describe one good thing that happened recently.

SW: Only one? But there’s so many good things that have happened recently. In the past week we’ve on-boarded 3 new clients, all of whom have promise.

VM: What’s your favorite thing you’ve ever made with your hands?

SW: Well, I’m gonna cheat a little bit. My favorite thing that I’ve ever written is my Master’s thesis, which I don’t consider a finished piece by any stretch, but it’s the first long form manuscript that I completed. I also wrote a feature length film script and I’ve dabbled in game coding.

VM: If you had to pick a new name for yourself what would it be?

SW: I don’t love Steve. I wouldn’t be Steve, if I could. When people come up with the guy who is the butt of the joke, they always pick Steve. I mean–why?

VM: Tell me something I don’t know!

SW: Suddenly forgets everything he’s ever known in his life. Um… our cat Oscar was named after a character in my thesis manuscript! And I survived cancer. You can put that.

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Get to Know the SimpatiCrew – Jill (10/12)

Jill Whiskeyman,CEO and Co-founder

This is the tenth installment of interviews with the Crew members of Simpatico Studios. The interviews are conducted by Veronica Mattaboni, your kindly narrator and interviewer.

Jill sits at her table, which acts most of the time as her desk, that resides in her and Steve’s office, across from their little couch, which also frequently acts as her desk. At her side is her trusty Dunkin’ Iced Tea. She asks me if it is all right for her to multitask during this interview.

VM: How would you define the Jill Brand™?

JW: I would probably describe it as “A Tale of Two Redheads.”

Steve Whiskeyman, from his desk three feet away, joins the conversation.

SW: Who’s the second redhead?

JW: It’s me.

VM: Who’s the first redhead?

JW: Still me. She laughs. I guess what I mean is I am equal parts introvert and extrovert. People energize me, but I am fiercely independent. I think there’s a bit of dichotomy there that you don’t often find in one person, which I chose to define by my most outwardly given feature: my hair color.

VM: What are some things that are characteristically you?

JW: Perfectionism, but also an easygoingness. My general disposition is to be happy and positive, but I’m also extremely irreverent, which definitely catches people off guard at times.

SW: …That was my word…

VM: What’s your favorite song right now?

JW: My favorite song at the moment is City Lights by Sara Bareilles. I’m generally obsessed with that album; it’s an oldie but a goody. And Gorgeous by Taylor Swift. Can’t get it out of my head.

Can’t Get You Out Of My Head by Kylie Minogue starts playing in my head.

VM: Do you consider yourself a good gift giver and what was the last gift you got someone?

JW: She takes a long pause. Ok. So I’m not sure if I actually live up to being a good gift giver (that’s up to the receiver), but I love to give gifts. I gave wanderer bracelets to my sister and our best friend Chelsea. They’re the coordinates of the childhood street we grew up on, so we never forget where we came from.

VM: If you could teach a class on literally anything, what would it be and why?

JW: Well I taught a class at Lebanon Valley College on entrepreneurship and advertising. If I had my say, it would’ve been specifically for women. Women in advertising has, unfortunately and fortunately, been given a spotlight since the advent of Madmen. We’re carving spots in a male dominated industry but we are not yet keeping pace with women executives.

VM: What’s your all-time favorite tv show?

JW: My all time favorite is Dawson’s Creek. If I had to do a hands down, that’s my hands down.

She then went on to list Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and The Affair on Showtime as some other notable guilty pleasures.

VM: Describe one good thing that happened recently.

JW: There’s been lots of good lately. I think something that stands out for me is getting to go away for a long weekend with friends. I was reminded that we have such wonderful people in our lives.

VM: What’s your favorite thing you’ve ever made with your hands?

JW: My mind initially went to arts and crafts, but I actually think it’s the Christmas after my mom passed away. It was a tough one for our family. I digitized her thumb print and name from my wedding guest book, and my dads, over a picture of them on their wedding day. I didn’t realize how much of an impact it would have on everyone, but it was wonderful.

VM: If you had to pick a new name for yourself what would it be?

JW: Whats a good sailor name? ‘Cause I curse like a sailor. I’m gonna look it up.

SW: Captain Jill Sparrow

JW: We could go with Cordelia… or Catalina… I can’t pick!

VM: Tell me something I don’t know!

JW: I broke my own finger in the fourth grade by—shockingly—talking to someone down the hall in school. I closed the classroom door on my pinky finger and broke the growth plate.

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Now if you’re unacquainted with Simpatico, I know what you must be thinking: “World Travel? Is this really what I’m paying you to do?”

We’re glad you asked.

To understand what you ARE paying for when you hire Simpatico, you ought to first understand what you’re NOT paying for.

Simpatico Studios is not:

Another pair of greedy agency owners or consultants looking to siphon every last dime out of our business.

Down with treating our clients like ATMs.

Cool with using slight-of-hand to trap businesses into outrageous, unfair agreements.

Weighed down by do-nothing Executive Leadership.

Satisfied that work goals and life goals are necessarily exclusive to one another.

Sold that creative talent does their best work when they’re told to just be grateful for their paycheck.

We structured Simpatico around the bold notion that a tight-knit team of well-vetted, properly incentivized creative people can do circles around bloated, ultra-expensive ad conglomerates and consultants.

Key phrase there is “properly incentivized.” How does an ad agency properly incentivize its people, exactly?

Simple: By asking them what they want.

At on-boarding, that’s what we do. Some want more creative freedom. Some want more flex time. But a resounding commonality with each batch of hires has been wanderlust—a profound longing to get out there and see the world.

So we decided to give them an opportunity to do just that.

You can argue with the premise, but one thing’s indisputable: what an agency puts back into its people can tell you a lot about the level of service and quality of workmanship you can expect.

Because, at the end of the day, our people are also your people. And the best way to keep people’s attention where it belongs—on YOU—is, we think, to ensure they don’t have to worry about their health, or feeling stuck in a dead-end job, or when their next great vacation will be—or a single thing besides your needs, really.

Your business needs sterling workmanship and concierge-caliber service from its marketing partner—and so, in kind, Simpatico, your marketing partner, reinvests your budget into its people.

Will our method bear out in the long haul? Jury’s out.

But what I can share already is this: By the close of 2018, we’ll have realized double-digit-or-greater growth for the third consecutive year—not thanks to raiding entire budgets, obligating companies to absurd contract terms, or being anywhere near the most expensive agency our size, but thanks to our people.

So, yeah, we think we’re on to something. And yeah, your investment contributes to the annual Summit trip—the ultimate incentive our people can earn—as well as the rest of our awesome team’s awesome benefits.

All of which is why we can do more to grow your business or brand than any other shop our size, why we expect to shatter records again in 2019, and why, ultimately, we’ll come out on top.

We're delighted you're visiting us!

Our studio is located in the Town Center Office Suites of beautiful New Britain Borough in Central Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Because GPS hasn’t historically given the most complete directions, we’ve provided guidance below.

Please don’t hesitate to call our office at 1-844-STAR-411 to request clarification. If arriving via Philadelphia International Airport, complimentary ride services may also be available from Simpatico; talk to your Account Manager prior to the date of your arrival to make arrangements.

From Philadelphia International Airport

Please note: This route has tolls.

From arrivals, take Exit 12B, following signs for I-95 South (yes, South—we didn’t design this User Experience).

After about five miles on I-95, take Exit 7, on the right, for I-476 North.

After about 19 miles on I-476 North, merge onto I-276 East.

After about five miles on I-276 East, take Exit 339 to merge onto PA-309 North.

After about eight miles, you’ll approach the Montgomery Mall Corridor.

From here, follow the From PA-309/Montgomery Mall directions.

From PA-309/Montgomery Mall

Head Northeast from the Five Points intersection onto Butler Ave. (US 202 Business).

Continue straight for about six miles—past County Line Rd., and through Chalfont Borough—until you come to the Giant shopping center, on your left, in New Britain Borough.

From here, follow the From Doylestown & New Britain directions.

From Doylestown & New Britain

The Town Center Condominiums are a horseshoe-shaped office complex situated behind the Giant and retail shopping plaza.

From Butler Ave (US 202 Business), turn onto Lenape Drive.

At the second driveway on the left, turn left, and then immediately right; follow signs for District Court.

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A strong brand identity takes the essence of a company—its people, values and mission—and translates it into an appealing external presence. Over the years of working with an array of industries, we’ve developed a proprietary technique that breathes life into brands of all kinds. We learn everything there is to know about you and your business, then put pen to paper on your story. We go far beyond the logo (though we hit those out of the park!). From the visual to the verbal, we develop a voice that’s consistently, uniquely you.